Gophers to Salute Seniors vs Iowa

Minnesota (4-4-0, Big Ten 1-1-0) vs. University of Iowa (7-1-0, Big Ten 2-0-0)
Date/Time	Saturday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.
Location	Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Live Stats
Live Updates	@GopherSoccer
Live Video	BTN Plus ($)

Social Media	@GopherSoccer \| Facebook

Sept. 19, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota women's soccer team will return to the Robbie this Saturday to host Iowa in their second weekend of Big Ten Conference play. In their lone home match of the month, the Gophers will look to improve on their 4-4-0 overall record and 1-1-0 conference record. The senior class, including Katie Thyken, Becca Roberts, Taylor Wodnick and Olivia Schultz, will be honored during pregame for their contributions to the Maroon and Gold during their time here. Kick off is at 7 p.m. at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The Maroon and Gold started conference play with a loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday. For the second game in a row, Rachel McCloskey earned the lone goal for the Gophers and saved Minnesota from being shut out in their first game of conference play. Michigan struck first with a goal from Ani Sarkisian scored her first of three goals on the weekend in the 9th minute of play. McCloskey would put Minnesota on the board after trailing for nearly 64 minutes. In the end, the Gophers fell in overtime as the Wolverines scored the golden goal in the 94th minute of play.

After the overtime loss on Friday evening, the Gophers had much to prove as they traveled to East Lansing to take on Michigan State who had suffered its first lost of the season in the opening game of Big Ten play against then-No. 9 Wisconsin. The Gophers led the Spartans in shots and held Michigan State without a chance of scoring for over twenty minutes of playing time before entering their second overtime of the weekend with the score knotted at 0. Sophomore Josee Stiever would emerge as the hero of the game after scoring the go-ahead goal in the third minute of extra time to earn the Gophers their first conference win of the season.

THE OPPONENTS

Minnesota will return to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie to host Iowa at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. The Hawkeyes are 2-0-0 in conference play, their best start in league competition since 2007. Iowa leads the Big Ten in shutouts with six while senior Cloe Lacasse is tied for the lead in conference points with 18 and second with seven goals and 37 shots. The Hawkeyes kicked off conference play with wins over Illinois and Northwestern last weekend.

The Gophers lead the all-time series 10-3-4 but the last four match ups have ended in a draw including the past two years at the Robbie.

FOOTBALL THEN FUTBOL
Gopher fans are in for a real treat on Saturday as they can see the best of Minnesota football and then enjoy the best of Minnesota futbol in a Saturday double header. The Gopher football team kicks off against San Jose State University at 3 p.m. at TCF Bank Stadium. Fans can then ride the shuttle from the entrance of Bierman Field Athletic Building (pick up begins at 6 p.m.) to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium to watch the Gophers battle it out with Iowa. Tickets from the football game will grant fans free admission into the soccer match.

SENIOR SALUTE
The Maroon and Gold will take a few minutes to salute the senior class on Saturday evening before the Gophers match up with Iowa. Seniors Katie Thyken, Olivia Schultz, Becca Roberts and Taylor Wodnick will be honored for their contributions to their team, community and university.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP

The sophomore class has stepped up in more ways than one for this young Gopher team. With the scoring ability of Simone Kolander, Josee Stiever in the midfield, Ashley Pafko and Rashida Beal holding down the back line and Tarah Hobbs in goal, the sophomore class is leading the team to new heights. Stiever proved this as she and Pafko teamed up to win the game for the Maroon and Gold on Sunday. The sophomore class that boasts 5 starters and accounts for nearly half of the Gophers 50 points will be a forced to be reckoned with in the coming months and years.

GOALKEEPER GLORY

Tarah Hobbs and the Gopher defense earned their fourth shutout in eight games as the Maroon and Gold stopped Michigan State on Sunday. Hobbs, the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, has 36 saves on the season. Hobbs has started seven of the Gophers eight games while Mara Dougherty stepped in and played one match for Minnesota this season tallying 4 saves against Auburn.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Minnesota will spend their last full weekend on the road of the regular season as they travel to Indiana and Purdue to close out a month of travel.

TUNING IN

Live stats for both games will be available via the University of Minnesota Game Day Central page. The game will be available for viewing via BTN + digital platform live from Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Fans who can't attend Saturday's match are encouraged to follow the Maroon and Gold on Twitter (@GopherSoccer).

FRESH FACES

Thee nine freshman that were added to the 2014 roster have proved to be a tremendous addition. Squires and Rachel McCloskey have started each of the 4 matches for the Maroon and Gold, combining for five of the Gophers 14 goals. Seven of the nine freshman have seen playing time in a regular season game and four have contributed to the Gophers 42 points including Squires, McCloskey, Hannah Holm and Juliana Gernes.

THE NOTORIOUS B1G

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll last week with the Gophers picked to finish eleventh in the conference behind new members Maryland and Rutgers who will both make their way to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in October. Penn State was picked to top the conference after finishing last season with a 7-4 conference record. One of their four losses came at the hands of the Gophers.

With the announcement of the preseason coaches' poll, the 2014 players to watch list was also revealed. It was no surprise that 2013 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, Tarah Hobbs, was named among midfielders Josee Stiever and Katie. Last season, Thyken led the charge in terms of scoring with a career high tying 7 goals.

In 2013, a Big Ten Conference record eight teams earned NCAA Tournament berths including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Ohio State while Iowa made their first ever post season run.

2013 RECAP

Minnesota posted an 11-8-2 record last season while collecting four conferences wins in Stefanie Golan's second year as head coach of the Maroon and Gold. Wins and loses do not tell the entire story for the Gophers last season as they defeated then No. 7 Penn State, No. 17 Michigan and Wisconsin to punch their ticket into the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A first round loss to Texas Tech on their home pitch sent the Gophers home after reaching the tournament for the first time since 2010 when Minnesota reached the Sweet Sixteen.

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES

Minnesota has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances in its history including a string of five postseason runs from 1995-99. During the programs third year of existence, the Golden Gophers made their first appearance in the 1995 and again in 1996 before reaching the second round three-consecutive times in 1997-99. The Gophers made their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2008 and then advanced to the Sweet 16 again in 2010. Last season's first round appearance marked Coach Golan's first tournament berth with the Maroon and Gold.

LEADING THE WAY

Minnesota announced last week that seniors Becca Roberts and Olivia Schultz and junior Haley Helverson will join Katie as captains for the 2014 season.

THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM

Stefanie Golan is entering her third season as the Gophers head coach with an overall record of 27-18-4 over the past three seasons. The Maroon and Gold return associate head coach and former Gopher defender Krystle Seidel as well as assistant coach Deana Waintraub-Stafford. New to the staff are MacKenzie Misel who will serve as volunteer assistant coach and Tam Strahota as director of soccer operations. Both new hires are former Gopher standouts.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Are you following the Gophers on the road or from home? Make sure to follow @GopherSoccer on Twitter and use the hashtag #GiveEverything. You can also check for updates on Facebook and Instagram by liking GopherSoccer.

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Rashida Beal

Mara Dougherty

Haley Helverson

Tarah Hobbs

Hannah Holm

Simone Kolander

Rachel McCloskey

MacKenzie Misel

Ashley Pafko

Becca Roberts

Olivia Schultz

Josee Stiever

Katie Thyken

Taylor Wodnick

Upcoming Events

University of Minnesota Athletics